Cosmetic Applicator Cleaning Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus and solution for removing a cosmetic from an applicator includes a housing and a cleaning assembly. The housing defines an interior area and an open end. The interior area is configured to selectively hold the applicator and a cleaning solvent. The open end is configured to selectively receive the applicator into the interior area. The cleaning assembly is positioned within the interior area of the housing and includes an upper end defining an opening in communication with the open end of the housing. The cleaning assembly also includes a continuous outer wall and a plurality of bristles extending inwardly from the outer wall. Each bristle is flexible so that the applicator agitates the bristles as the applicator pushes through the bristles. A wiping member is situated adjacent the open end of the housing and is configured to remove excess cleaning solvent from the applicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to cleaning devices and, more particularly, to an apparatus and solution for cleaning mascara from a mascara applicator.

Mascara is a cosmetic commonly applied to enhance a person's eyes. Specifically, mascara is a relatively thick liquid or cream that is applied to a person's eyelashes with a brush applicator. A common problem with applying mascara is that the applicator brush becomes clogged, matted, or dried out after repeated use or even after a period of non-use. Clumpy or dried mascara is very difficult to clean off of an existing applicator brush. Sometimes, a brush that no longer yields a smooth application of mascara to a user's eyelashes is often discarded and replaced.

Various devices have been proposed for cleaning cosmetic brushes. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices or proposals are directed toward mascara bottles having structures removing excess mascara from a mascara applicator. However, there is still a need for an apparatus that removes clumpy or dry mascara from a mascara applicator brush. In other words, there needs to be an apparatus that completely and thoroughly removes all traces of mascara from a brush.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a cleaning apparatus and solution for thoroughly cleaning a mascara applicator apart from a bottle of mascara. Further, it would be desirable to have a mascara applicator cleaning apparatus having a plurality of bristles situated in a housing that holds a mascara solvent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus and solution for removing a cosmetic from a cosmetic applicator includes a housing defining an interior area configured to selectively hold the applicator and a cleaning solvent, the housing defining an open end configured to selectively receive a cosmetic applicator into the interior area. The cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning assembly having a continuous outer wall and a plurality of bristles extending inwardly from the outer wall, the cleaning assembly being constructed of a flexible material and positioned within the interior area of the housing. A wiping member is situated adjacent the housing open end, the wiping member including a cone section having a cone shaped configuration with a downwardly decreasing diameter, the wiping member configured to remove excess cleaning solvent from the application member.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus that is configured to receive and clean a mascara applicator having been removed from a mascara bottle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus, as aforesaid, in which a cleaning assembly is constructed of a flexible material so as to be inserted into a housing.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus, as aforesaid, having a plurality of cleaning bristles configured to agitate a mascara applicator when inserted into the housing.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus, as aforesaid, having a wiping member adjacent an upper opening of a housing for inhibiting solvent from being withdrawn from the housing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus, as aforesaid, that is easy to use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is a side view of the cleaning apparatus as in FIG. 1 illustrated with a cover exploded from a housing;

FIG. 2 b is a sectional view taken along lines 2 b-2 b of FIG. 2 a; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the cleaning apparatus as in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus, also referred to as a cleaning apparatus, according to the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings. The cleaning apparatus 10 includes a housing 30 and a cleaning assembly 50 for use in cleaning a cosmetic applicator 20. The cosmetic applicator 20 may be a mascara brush 20.

The housing 30 defines an interior area 32 and an open end 34. The interior area 32 is configured to selectively hold the cosmetic applicator 20 and a cleaning solvent (not shown). The cleaning solvent may or may not be a cosmetic solvent. The open end 34 is configured to selectively receive the cosmetic applicator 20 into the interior area 32.

The housing 30 may include a lower closed end 36 and a neck section 40. The lower end 36 may have a flat configuration so as to accommodate setting the cleaning apparatus 10 on a flat surface (not shown) such as a tabletop or a countertop. The neck section 40 may extend upwardly from the open end 34 of the housing 30 and may include an exterior surface 42 and an interior surface 44. The exterior surface 42 of the neck section 40 may define exterior threads 46. The interior surface 44 of the neck section 40 may define interior threads 48 and an interior passageway 45 in communication with the open end 34 of the housing 30.

The cleaning assembly 50 is positioned within the interior area 32 of the housing 30 and includes an upper end 54 and a lower end 56. The upper end 54 defines an opening 58 in communication with the open end 34 of the housing 30 when positioned therein. The lower end 56 is downwardly displaced from the upper end 54. All or part of the cleaning assembly 50 may be constructed of a flexible material.

The cleaning assembly 50 includes a continuous outer wall 52 and a plurality of bristles 55 extending inwardly from the outer wall 52. Each bristle 55 may be semi-flexible so that the cosmetic applicator 20 agitates the plurality of bristles 55 as the cosmetic applicator 20 pushes through the plurality of bristles 55. In one embodiment, the plurality of bristles 55 are situated adjacent the upper end 54 of the cleaning assembly 50. In another embodiment, the plurality of bristles 55 extends substantially from the upper end 54 of the cleaning assembly 50 to the lower end 56 of the cleaning assembly 50. In yet another embodiment the plurality of bristles 55 are displaced from the upper end 54 of the cleaning assembly 50.

The cleaning apparatus 10 may include a wiping member 60 in communication with the opening 58 of the cleaning assembly 50. The wiping member 60 may be configured to remove excess cleaning solution from the cosmetic applicator 20 as the cosmetic applicator 20 is removed from the cleaning apparatus 10. More particularly, the wiping member 60 may define a top opening 62 and an opposed bottom opening 64. The bottom opening 64 may have a diameter smaller than a diameter of the top opening 62. The diameter of the top opening 62 may be complementary to a diameter of the open end 34 of the housing 30.

The wiping member 60 may be situated adjacent the open end 34 of the housing 30 and may include a top flange 66, a neck section 70, and/or a cone section 68. The cone section 68 has a downwardly decreasing diameter. The top flange 66 may be situated above the open end 34 of the housing 30 so as to create a seal. In one embodiment, the neck section 70 extends downwardly from the top flange and the cone section 68 extends downwardly from the neck section 70. In another embodiment, the cone section 68 may extend downwardly from the top flange 66. The cone section 68 and/or the neck section 70 of the wiping member 60 may be in communication with the neck section 40 of the housing 30.

The neck section 70 of the wiping member 60 includes an exterior surface 72. The exterior surface 72 may define exterior threads 74 that are complementary to the interior threads 48 defined by the interior surface 44 of the neck section 40 of the housing 30. Together, the exterior 74 threads defined by the exterior surface 72 of the neck section 70 of the wiping member 60 and interior 48 threads of the housing 30 enable the wiping member 60 to be securely coupled to the housing 30.

The cleaning apparatus 10 may also include a cap member 100 defining a threaded bore 102. The threaded bore 102 may be complementary to the exterior threads 46 defined by the exterior surface 42 of the neck section 40 of the housing 30. Together, the threaded bore 102 and the exterior threads 74 enable the cap member 100 to be securely coupled to the housing 30.

The top flange 66 of the wiping member 60 creates a seal between the cap member 100 and the housing 30 when the cap member 100 is securely coupled to the housing 30. Consequently, the cleaning solvent (not shown) may be retained within the housing 30 of the cleaning apparatus 10 regardless of the orientation of the cleaning apparatus 10. The interior threads 48 of the neck section 40 of the housing 30 may be reverse of the exterior threads 46 of the neck section 40 of the housing 30 so that the wiping member 60 will not decouple from the housing 30 while the cap member 100 is being decoupled from the housing 30.

In use, the cleaning apparatus 10 removes a cosmetic, such as mascara, from a cosmetic applicator 20. A solvent capable of dissolving or breaking down mascara is contained within the interior area 32 of the housing 30. The cosmetic applicator 20 is immersed in cleaning solvent (not shown) and is moved through a plurality of bristles 55 when inserted into the housing 30. While the cosmetic applicator 20 is immersed in the cleaning solvent, the cleaning solvent may weaken the bond between the cosmetic and the cosmetic applicator 20 by breaking down the cosmetic. As the cosmetic applicator 20 is moved through the plurality of bristles 55, the bristles 55 may wipe cosmetic off of the cosmetic applicator 20. The cosmetic applicator 20 may be immersed and/or moved through the plurality of bristles 55 multiple times until the cosmetic applicator 20 is sufficiently clean. As the cosmetic applicator 20 is removed from the cleaning apparatus 10, the wiping member 60 wipes excess cleaning solvent off of the cosmetic applicator 20. The cap member 100 may be coupled to the housing 30 to retain the remaining cleaning solvent within the cleaning apparatus 10.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof. 

1. A cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus and solution for cleaning a cosmetic applicator, comprising: a housing defining an interior area configured to selectively hold the cosmetic applicator and a cleaning solvent, said housing defining an open end configured to selectively receive the cosmetic applicator into said interior area; a cleaning assembly having a continuous outer wall and a plurality of bristles extending inwardly from said outer wall, said cleaning assembly being constructed of a flexible material and positioned within said interior area of said housing.
 2. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of bristles are flexible so that the cosmetic applicator agitates said plurality of bristles as the cosmetic applicator is inserted through said plurality of bristles.
 3. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 2, wherein: said cleaning assembly includes an upper end defining an opening in communication with said open end of said housing; and said plurality of bristles is situated adjacent said upper end.
 4. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 3, further comprising a wiping member situated adjacent said open end of said housing and in communication with said opening of said cleaning assembly, said wiping member being configured to remove excess cleaning solution from the cosmetic applicator when the cosmetic applicator is removed from the cleaning apparatus.
 5. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 4, wherein said wiping member defines a top opening having a diameter complementary to a diameter of said open end of said housing and a bottom opening having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said top opening.
 6. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 4, wherein said wiping member includes a cone section having a downwardly decreasing diameter.
 7. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 4, wherein said housing includes a neck section extending upwardly from said open end of said housing, said wiping member being situated in said neck member of said housing.
 8. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 7, further comprising a cap member defining a threaded bore; wherein said neck section of said housing includes an exterior surface that defines exterior threads complementary to said threaded bore of said cap member such that said cap member is selectively securely coupled to said housing.
 9. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 8, wherein said wiping member includes a top flange situated above said open end of said housing such that said top flange creates a seal between said cap member and said housing when said cap member is securely coupled to said housing so as to retain said cleaning solvent within said housing regardless of the orientation of the cleaning apparatus.
 10. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 9, wherein: said wiping member includes a neck section extending downwardly from said top flange, said neck section having an exterior surface defining exterior threads; and said neck section of said housing includes an interior surface, said interior surface defining interior threads complementary to said exterior threads of said neck section of said wiping member such that said wiping member is selectively coupled to said housing.
 11. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 10, wherein said interior threads of said neck section of said housing are reverse of said exterior threads of said neck section of said housing so that said wiping member is not decoupled from said housing while said cap member is selectively decoupled from said housing.
 12. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 1, wherein said cleaning solvent is a non-cosmetic solvent.
 13. A cosmetic applicator cleaning apparatus and solution for removing mascara from a mascara brush, comprising: a housing defining an interior area configured to selectively hold the mascara brush and a cleaning solvent, said housing defining an open end configured to selectively receive the mascara brush into said interior area; and a cleaning assembly having a continuous outer wall and a plurality of bristles extending inwardly from said outer wall, said cleaning assembly being constructed of a flexible material and positioned within said interior area of said housing; wherein: said plurality of bristles are flexible such that the mascara brush agitates said plurality of bristles when the mascara brush is pushed through said plurality of bristles; said cleaning assembly includes an upper end defining an opening in communication with said open end of said housing; and said plurality of bristles is situated adjacent said upper end of said cleaning assembly.
 14. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 13, further comprising a wiping member situated adjacent said open end of said housing and in communication with said opening of said cleaning assembly, said wiping member being configured to remove excess cleaning solution from the mascara brush when the mascara brush is withdrawn from the cleaning apparatus.
 15. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 14, wherein said wiping member defines a top opening having a diameter complementary to a diameter of said open end of said housing and a bottom opening having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said top opening.
 16. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 14, wherein said wiping member includes a cone section having a downwardly decreasing diameter.
 17. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 14, further comprising a cap member defining a threaded bore; wherein said housing includes a neck section extending upwardly from said open end, said neck section having an exterior surface defining exterior threads complementary to said threaded bore of said cap member such that said cap member is selectively coupled to said housing.
 18. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 17, wherein: said wiping member includes a top flange extending above said neck section of said housing such that said top flange creates a seal between said cap member and said housing when said cap member is securely coupled to said housing such that said cleaning solvent is retained within said housing regardless of the orientation of the cleaning apparatus; said wiping member includes a neck section extending downwardly from said top flange, said neck section having an exterior surface defining exterior threads; and said neck section of said housing includes an interior surface defining interior threads complementary to said exterior threads of said neck section of said wiping member such that said wiping member is selectively coupled to said housing.
 19. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 18, wherein said interior threads of said neck section of said housing are reverse of said exterior threads of said neck section of said housing so that said wiping member is not decoupled from said housing when said cap member is decoupled from said housing.
 20. The cleaning apparatus and solution as in claim 12, wherein said cleaning solvent is not mascara. 